Woman, son plead guilty in fatal shooting

April 07, 2010

A mother and her son pleaded guilty to their roles in a gang-related shooting on Chicago's South Side last year that left an 18-year-old man dead, Cook County State's Atty. Anita Alvarez said today in a news release.

Delfino Juarez, 19, of the 5000 block of South Paulina Street, was convicted of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting Jesus Sanchez last May, and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Delfino Juarez's mother, Karen Juarez, 50, of the same address, was convicted of obstruction of justice in connection with the slaying, and sentenced to one year probation.

Prosecutors said the mother and son, a gang member, went to a gas station at 2006 W. Garfield Blvd. on May 15, 2009 for the son to buy cigarettes. While walking into the store, prosecutors said Delfino Juarez became angry during an argument with rival gang members who were also at the station filling their car with gas.

After making his purchases, Delfino Juarez returned to his mother car's and the two were pulling out of the station when rival gang members pulled in front of them and began yelling gang slogans in their direction. He then exited his vehicle with a gun and opened fire at the rival gang members as their car drove away, striking and killing Sanchez.

"After the shooting," prosecutors said, "Karen Juarez drove her son home and instructed him to dispose of the weapon."

Chicago police detectives investigated the slaying, examined surveillance video footage of it as it was captured on police and gas station security cameras, prosecutors said. The mother and son were then eventually arrested.